Two booked for circulating wrong information through social media
Patiala, April 2, 2020: Two persons – including a woman – have been booked for posting wrong information on Whatsapp – social media – over stopping of food items and medicines to the people, during curfew imposed to stay at home, on March 23 in the wake of curbing the pandemic coronavirus.
SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said, Tejwinder Singh and Balwir Kaur resident Gurbakhsh Colony have been booked under section 188 and Section 52-54 of Disaster Management Act 2005 at Lahori Gate police station. He said that both of them were arrested and their mobile phones were also seized.
SSP said, during the curfew passes were issued by the district administration, for the supply of essential goods and other services to the general public but on social media, false messages were posted about the cancellation of the passes and now the supply of foodstuffs and medicines have been stopped.
He said that for which the police identified those persons, who made viral on social media such message and strict action was taken against them adding that the public was made aware of the compliance of Article 144 imposed by the District Magistrate as well as repeated appeals by the police and the civil administration for not spreading any false information and rumours regarding the Coronavirus. But the two, who are also neighbours, posted and viral wrong messages, during the curfew, on the social media,
Meanwhile, SSP also appealed to the general public that it is a legal offence to viral wrong messages and spread rumours about Coronavirus, which will be prosecuted according to the law against anyone found to be in violation.